Bohol Guv thanks donors for help to quake victims

TAGBILARAN CITY , Philippines   â€” As more donations keep on coming in, Gov. Edgar Chatto, in behalf of the Boholanos, yesterday expressed gratitude to donors for their help, in cash or in kind, to earthquake victims of the province.

The governor relayed his thanks during the 117th birth anniversary (Nov. 4) celebration of Carlos Polistico Garcia, the 4th president of the Republic of  the Philippines.

During the rites, Chatto received a P2-million check from Provincial Board Member Clemente Arboleda as relief assistance of the Pangasinan provincial government to Bohol.

Arboleda, representing Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino Jr, said the amount allocated for Bohol was supposedly only a million and the other million for Cebu province that was also affected by the devastating earthquake on Oct. 15.

Arboleda said Cebu province however decided not to have a slice of  the donation from Pangasinan, and suggested instead to give its share to Bohol that needed the money most, thus the entire P2 million was given to Bohol.

During the same occasion, Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA), represented by its general manager Nigel Paul Villarete, handed over to Chatto the amount of P1 million as part of its corporate social responsibility.

Likewise, Aksyon Kaliwat Bol-anon of Cagayan de Oro City, represented by Jay Valleser, also gave to Chatto a cash donation for the Bohol victims: P2 million from the city government and P1.5 million from the Misamis Oriental provincial government.

Chatto, in his speech during the ceremony, cited virtues of  then President Garcia as strength for Boholanos to rise up again from the rubbles of the earthquake.

"Resiliency, positivity and faith in God" will guide the Boholanos to rebuild again as recovery efforts, especially the opening of  road blocks to access relief goods and other form of help to remote quake-laden areas, are underway," said the governor.

Chatto also clarified that all cash donations have been issued receipts and managed by the Provincial Treasurer's Office, while those from the private sectors have been taken care of by the Bohol Chamber of  Commerce and Industry, for transparency and accountability purposes.

The Bohol LGU further acknowledged the following partial list of donors:

Iloilo province with P2 million, City of Manila (P2M), Bukidnon province (P2M), Taguig City (P1M), Naga City (P1M), Mindoro Oriental (P1M), St. Peter's Life Plan (694,080), Catbalogan City (P500,000), Albay (P500,000), Valenzuela City (P500,000), Cebu CFI (P300,000), Provincial Board Members League of the Philippines (P50,000) and Naval, Biliran (P10,000). (FREEMAN)